Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-06

"Tnese." remarked Barton, "are the
nests of wild bees Do not speak
above a whisper, or you arc liable to dis
iurb uhem, for here they are accustomed
70 The silence OF death. OF de tn" he re-
peatsd, after a momenfs silence, ''o'
DEATH"
There was something uncanny and
weird about that repetition by our
leader. Presently on the right bank there
arose q tremend us noise. Ii was our
Oeaters. Looking up we beheld sight
as unt0rgetaole as it was fascinating and
unique Limned against the sky, with
profile rs distinct as the lines of an old
master, stood the man-eater. He was
ASKING his tall and glancIns first at the
army of best4rs and then down on Us
Forgetiul of his own warning to pre-
serve utter silence between the Marble
Rocks, Barton stood mp IN his boat, drew
his rifle to his shoulder, took a steady
aim and fired. We saw the brute leap
into the air. We heard the sound OF the
snot echo and re-echO with the noisA OF a
battery OF artillery from wall to wall OF
the river. Then suddealy the air gre
dark and became fllAd with an indascri-
bable humming and buzzing
1.-The bees! the bees!" shouted Barton.
Leap for your lives, gentlemen, and
diveP'
Almost before we had time to comprs-
bend him l was stung in innumerable
places about the face and hands. and ia
almost unconscious desperation L leaped
overheard. l swan under the water till
my breath was exhausted cloud OF
bees descended upon my head aud
dived again. An age OF centuries passed
before me as ] swan and Owed mechani-
cally. When awoke was lying in thS
midst OF a group of natives, who were
applying all the simple restoratives they
knew. When | was sufficiently recovered
l asked for my companions. and was In
formed that all but one had escaped
That one was Barton. He had become
entangled among the ropes in his boat.
He leaped overheard, but was too ham
pered to vim and dive as the rest Of us
had done. The bees settled in myriads
upon his face and head every time he re-
appeared. At length, exhausted with
agony, he sank below Nerbudda's tran
quill waters. His body was recovered
three days afterward, swirling in pool
! beyond the borders OF the Marble Rocks.
Poor fellow, he must have died hou-
sand deaths before nature stretched forth
her hands and received him into Der
ample and patn-forgetting bosom.
On mound on the eastern bank of the
| Marble Rocks row rests a square tomb
| bearing the simple inscription that
MIR. Frederick Barton had been a
good man and able engineer, had
served the G. L. P. r. Com
pany most faithfully, and had lost his life
in the Nerbudda through an appalling ac-
cident. Every year it is visited by DARK.
eyed Hlndoo woman, who places few
flowers upon it, and murmurs:
HE was kind to me. He gave me
! backsheesh when | was hungry. L sa
| the cloud, but could not drive 1t away
| rom his face"
People think she is insane. Der own
-imple folks say she is a witch endowed
with the gods gift OF second sight. FIR, dis
latal shot killed the tiger, and the COOLIES
| on the railway bridge cbanted thanks in
| heir rude temple for the removal of the
scourge. A telegram operator showed
me, years atterward, the telegram which
| Carton sent off alter the strange utter
ance of the little HindoO foWer-seller. 1t
| read:
"Dear mother, am we'll at present.
| God bless you all. Merry Christmas.
| My will is with Mr.. Blank, City OF
| York."